Pneumatic action for pianos and the like.



N C. T. BEITEL.

PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR PIANOS AND THE LIKE.- APPLICATION FILED DEC- 6. 19|1.

, 1,1 88,7 1 6 Y Patented June 27, 1916.

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WITNESSES INVENTOR I A 64mg, 1 0W 0 I v gfimfi/g THE coLUMmA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, n. c.

'c. T. BEITEL.

PNEUMATIC ACTIONFOR PIANOS AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 6. 1 91].

1,188,716, Patented June 27,1916.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

%z W w mfzzz' "I I Q J M Z AltomeyS GLEMENCE '1. BEITEL, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

INEUMATIC ACTIONFOR lPIANOS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 27, 1916.

Application filed December 6, 1911. Serial No. 664,129.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLEMnNon T. BEITEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Pneumatic Actions for Pianos and the like, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to that class of automatic music producing instruments in which the operation is effected by pneumatic tension under the control of a perforated music sheet or the like.

The invention relates particularly to the construction and arrangement of the parts comprising the pneumatic actuator and to certain details of construction as set forth in the following specification and part1cu-- larly pointed out in the claims. I

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front view of a serles of pneumatic actuators constructed and assembled in pairs. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line ww of Fig. 1 showing the means for assembling the parts. Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line yy of Fig. 1, showing the pneumatic actuator in the double valve pneumatic form. Fig. 4. is a top plan view, on a reduced scale, of a pair of pneumatic actuators. Fig. 5 is a front view of the motor pneumatic valve section. Fig. 6 1s a top view of the detachable section of the housing. Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing a pneumatic action of the single valve pneumatic form. Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line a a of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a rear face view of the detach able section of the single valve pneumatic form. Fig. 11 is a side view of a single pneumatic actuator showing means for se curing the detachable section to the motor valve section. Fig. 12 is a detail view of an improved valve construction for pneumatic actuators.

As shown and described, the invention is applicable in certain of its features to both the single valve pneumatic form and the double valve pneumatic form.

For convenience and eheapness of manufacture and facility in assembling and dismantling the parts it has been found advantageous to construct the trains of pneumatic actuators and their housings in pairs or plural form as shown in Figs. 1,2, 4, 5,

6, 7, 9 and 10. In this form the stationary leaves of the motor pneumatics and the motor pneumatic valve sections of each pair of pneumatic actuators are formed from an integral block of wood, also the detachable sections, containing the diaphragm or the diaphragm and valve, as the case may be, of each pair of pneumatic actuators constitute an integral structure. The invention, however, may be embodied in the form of a single pneumatic action as shown in Fig. 11.

Referring to the double valve pneumatic construction, best shown in Fig. 3, the housing for the pneumatically actuated elements comprises an end section 1 and a motor valve section 2. The section 2 is provided with an integral extension 2 forming a stationary leaf of the motor penumatic 3. The movable leaf 3 of the motor pneumatic has a hinge l of flexible material in serted and secured in a saw kerf in the block 2, and glued to the movable leaf 3. The two sections 1 and 2 and the motor pneumatic are arranged in alinement longitudinally of the motor pneumatic. The sections 1 and 2 are bored out to form the valve and vacuum chambers and channels for the transmission of pneumatic tension to effect the operation of the device when the parts are assembled in operative relation. The section 1 is provided with a recess or chamber to receive a primary pneumatic valve diaphragm 5 which is secured to an annulus 5 of fiber or other suitable composition removably fitted by a slip joint in the recess. The diaphragm 5 divides the diaphragm chamber. into compartments 6 and the compartment 6 being closed by a removable lid 8. The com partment 7 has a port 7 open to the atmosphere, this port being closed by the primary valve 9 actuated by the-diaphragm 5. The compartment 6 is connected with the tracker (not shown) through a port 10 and a channel 10. A small metal tube 11, for connection with the tracker tube 11, is inserted in the channel 10 to the point indicated by the dotted line 11. A channel 12 leading to the atmosphere at port 12 also communicates with the channel 10. A removable plug 12 is provided to close the port 12. The section 1 is also recessed at its rear to form, in connection with a coinciding recess in the section 2, a diaphragm chamber for the secondary diaphragm 13, said diaphragm dividing the diaphragm chamber into compartments 14 and 15. The compartment 14 communicates with the chamber 7 through a channel 16, and the compartment 15 communicates with the compartment 7 through a channel 17.

The channel 10 leading from the compartment G is intercepted by the channel 17 and the small metal tube 11 closes the com-' munication between these two channels except through a small vent or bleeder 22 in said tube. The diaphagm 13 is secured to a fiber or other suitable composition annulus 13 removably seated by a slip con nection in the recess in. the rear of the block 1. The block 2 contains a valve chamber 18 in which is seated the motor pneumatic valve 23. The section 2 is also provided with an interior shoulder 19 upon which is seated a removable disk or partition 20 of fiber or other suitable composition provided with a central port 20 and forming a valve seat, said disk forming a dividing wall between valve chamber 18 and compartment 15. The valve chamber 18 communicates with the atmosphere at port 18.

21 indicates a fiber or other composition annulus removably fitted by a slip connection in the compartment 15 in block 2 and engaging both the disk 20 and diaphragm 13. The annulus 21 serves to maintain the disk 20 and diaphragm 13 in operative position and assists in efl'ecting air tight connecti on between the sections 1 and 2.

The motor pneumatic valve 23 comprises a. valve stem and valve disks 23 and 23* controlling respectively the ports 20 and 18. The valve 23 is slidably supported in its seat by means of the fluted disks 23 to which the valve disks 23 and 23 are secured, the supporting disks and valve disks thereon being adjustable on the valve stem. The valve stem projects through the port 20 and is provided with a knob 23 for contact with the diaphragm 13. The compartment 15 is connected with amain vacuum trunk (not shown) through a port 15. The valve chamber 18 is in pneumatic connection with the motor pneumatic 3 through passage 24 bored through the section 2 and entering the valve chamber between the two valve heads. For convenience only one such passage is shown, but manifestly two or more may be employed.

Referring to the single valve pneumatic form, as best shown in cross section in Fig. 8, the primary pneumatic elements are omitted and the channel 10 in the end head communicates directly with the vacuum compartment 14 through the port 10". The channel 17 communicating with the vacuum compartment 15 terminates in the block 1 a short distance beyond the channel 10". The channel 10 also communicates with the channel 17 through the small vent or bleeder 22. In other respects the construction of the single valve pneumatic is sub stantially the same as that of the double valve pneumatic construction.

As before stated, the trains of pneumatic elements and their housings are preferably arranged in pairs or groups and the two separate parts of the housing for each pair comprise the integral end sections 1, 1 and the integral motor valve sections 2, 2 having the integral extensions 3, 33 forming the stationary leaves of the motor pneumatics. The ends sections 1, 1 are detachably secured to the motor valve sections 2, 2 by means of a belt 25 passing through the dividing wall between the two trains and secured by a. nut 25*. A suitable packing is interposed between the end sections and motor valve sections. The several pairs of actions thus assembled are secured to cross bars, one of 35 which is represented in fragmentary form by the character 26, by means of screws 27 passing through said bars and into the driving wall between the motor valve sections 22. It is common to arrange the supporting bars for the pneumatics in a position accessible through an opening in the piano. In applicants construction, however, the arrangement of the parts comprising each pneumatic train and the arrangement of the several trains with respect to the supporting bars is such as to render the parts more easily accessible. It will be seen that the end sections of any train or pair of trains may be removed from the motor valve blocks without disturbing the latter, whereby access may be had to the interior of the motor valve block and the valve parts removed for readjustment, repair or renewal. It will also be seen that the diaphragm carriedby the end sections may be readily removed for repair or renewal. It will also be seen that there are no glued or permanently secured parts to be torn apart for the repair or re newal of the mechanism and that all the interior mechanism that is likely to be worn or damaged is readily removable.

In the single train pneumatic form, as shown in Fig. 11., the end section is pref? erably secured to the i'notor valve section by means of a screw clamp 28, any suitable means being employed to secure the pneumatic to the cross bars in the piano casing.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming that the tracker is closed and the system is under pneumatic tension as is well understood, when the tracker is open the tension in the system is released and air drawn in through the tracker tube enters the vacuum compartment 6 raising the diaphragm 5 and operating the valve 9. Thereupon air is admitted from the atmosphere through the port 7 and enters the vacuum chamber 14. Suction in the vacuum compartment 15 moves the diaphragm 13 thereby operating the valve 23 to open the port 20 and close the port 18*, whereupon the air is drawn from the motor pneumatic 3 causing the same to collapse, th-us raising the movable leaf to which the key action (not shown) is connected. When the tracker is closed the air in the tracker tube and chamber 6 is exhausted through the channel 10, bleeder 22, channel 17 compartment 15, thence to the main vacuum trunk. The compartment 11 is exhausted through the channel 16, channel 17, compartment 15, thence to the main vacuum trunk. Compartment 7 is exhausted through channel. 17, compartment 15, thence to the main vacuum trunk. Compartment 15 is exhausted directly from the main, vacuum trunk. The suction in the compartment 15 normally closes the valve 20 and opens the valve 18 thus permitting air to enter through the valve chamber 18, channel 24, into the motor pneumatic 3.

The operation of the single valve pneumatic form is as follows: \Vhen the tracker is open. air is admitted through the channel 10 to the vacuum compartment 14: whereupon the suction in compartment 15 moves the diaphragm 13 thereby operating the valve 23 and eflecting the collapse of the motor pneumatic as in the double valve construction. Pneumatic tension is created in the single valve system by exhaustion of the tracker tube through vent 22, channel 17, compartment 15, thence to the main vacuum trunk. The compartment ll is exhausted through channel 10 vent 22, channel 17, compartment 15, thence to the main vacuum trunk. Compartment 15 is exhausted and the valve 23 operated to close the port 20 and open port 18 in the same manner as in the double valve construction.

The channel 12 communicating with channel 10 and having an outlet 12 to the atmosphere is provided for blowing out such dust or obstruction as may accumulate in the vent 22 or the channel 12. In order to blow out such dust the tracker tube is removed and the small metal tube blown into, the plug 12 having been removed.

What I claim is:

1. In a pneumatic actuator, two separable housing sections containing the valve and diaphragm chests, a removable partition and valve seated in one of said sections, said partition separating the valve and diaphragm chests and provided with a valve seat, a diaphragm removably seated in the other of said sections, said diaphragm being in position to operate said valve, said partition, valve and diaphragm adapted to be removed through the open ends of their respective containing sections when the latter are separated.

2. In a pneumatic actuator two separable housing sections containing the valve and diaphragm chests, a removable partition seated in one of said sections and separating the valve and diaphragm chests, said partition forming a valve seat, a removable valve in the valve chest, a removable diaphragm in the diaphragm chest, said diaphragm being in position to operate said valve, said valve, partition and diaphragm adapted to be removed through the open ends of the sections when the latter are separated.

3. In a pneumatic actuator two separable housing sections containing the valve and diaphragm chests, a removable partition seated in one of said sections and separating the valve and diaphragm chests, a valve seat on said partition adjacent the plane thereof, a removable valve in the valve chest, a removable diaphragm in the diaphragm chest, said diaphragm being in position to operate said valve, said valve, diaphragm and partition adapted to be re-. moved through the open ends of the sections when the latter are separated. V

1. In a pneumatic actuator, two separable recessed housing sections, a removable valve and partition seated in one of said sections, said partition containing a valve seat, a removable diaphragm seated in the other of said sections, said diaphragm being in position to operate said valve, means within the sections and extending from one section to the other to cover the line of division of the sections and hold the latter in. alinement, and means to clamp the two sections in place.

5. In a pneumatic actuator, two separable recessed housing sections, a removable valve and partition seated in one of said sections, said partition containing a valve seat, a removable diaphragm seated in the other of said sections, said diaphragm being in position to operate said valve, means extending from one section to the other and engaging said partition and diaphragm, said means adapted to cover the line of division of the sections and hold the latter in alinement, and means to clamp the two sections in place.

6. In a pneumatic actuator, a casing com prising two sections each of unitary struc ture recessed to form a valve chamber and channeled to form air passages communicating with said chamber, a partition provided with a valve seat frictionally seated in said chamber and dividing the same into a valve and a diaphragm compartment, means frictionally engaging the walls of the chamber to support said partition, said sections being separable in a plane intersecting said chamber, and means for releasably securing said sections.

7. In a pneumatic actuator, a casing comprising two sections each of unitary struc ture recessed to form a valve chamber and channeled to form air passages communieating with said chamber, a artition provided with a valve seat frictlonall seated in one of said sections and dividing said chamber into a valve and a diaphragm coinpartment, means frietionally engaging the Walls of the chamber for supporting said partition, a diaphragm and an annulus for supporting the same frictionally seated in the other of said sections, said diaphragm being in position to operate said valve, said sections being separable in a plane intersecting said chamber, and means for releasably securing said sections.

8. In a pneumatic actuator, the combination of a housing containing a valve chamber and a system of channels and ports for mosphere.

CLEMENCE T. BEITEL. lVitnesses ANNIE COOPER, JAS. H. Bmcxwooo.

Copies of this potent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the Commissioner or rstents. Wsshhflol, I. 0." 

